Stay At Home Educator

intentional teaching for purposeful learning

  • About
    • Copyright / Disclosure / Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Preschool Lesson Plans
  • Literacy
  • STEAM
  • Thematic Activities
  • Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
    • My Account

Faux Sand Art

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that at no cost to you, I may earn a small sum if you click through and make a purchase.

August 3, 2012 by Sarah Punkoney, MAT

The other day the kids and I were at the dollar store when we came across some colored sand in the art section.  I knew better than to pass it by, but focused on the original purpose of the trip I continued walking anyway, and when I returned to buy that colored sand a few weeks later it was gone.  Of course.  (Like I said, I knew better).

By then I had already committed to doing to sand/glue art with William, so I was committed to finding an affordable alternative.  My solution?  Find out how to make fake sand art!

Salt + food coloring = faux sand

Here’s How to Make Fake Sand Art

Place desired amount of salt into a container with a tight snap on lid.  Add a few drops of food coloring (depending on the desired saturation), replace lid and shake.

Faux sand for preschoolers

I used kosher salt, but a fine grain salt works just as well.

faux sand for free preschool play

The salt may need a few minutes to dry out a bit, so while that is happening get your kiddie making a design out of glue.  This was William’s favorite part.

preschool child playing with glue and learning fine motor control

Then, invite your child to sprinkle pinches of salt onto the glue.  William really just wanted to pour the whole container onto the paper, which would have been ok except that part of the purpose of this activity was for William to practice using his pincher grasp.

Preschool boy playing with faux sand and glue art

The final product looks like this:

Faux sand art design for preschool

and

fake sand art for preschool

Be prepared, however, for the fabulous mess this kind of art can make.  Well worth it.  😉  (I think next time I’ll lay down a sheet on the table so I can just pull up the corners and shake the mess outside).

Preschool art is a mess!

Enjoy!

Sarah Punkoney, MAT

I am Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home mama of five! I am the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught range of levels, including preschool and college, and a little bit of just about everything in between. Right now, my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction

stayathomeeducator.com/

You might also enjoy:

Big Scribbling – Simple Art for Toddlers easy one ingredient sidewalk chalk paint recipeOne Ingredient Sidewalk Paint Recipe Magnetic Quilting Shapes – a Math Activity for Preschoolers A beautiful winter process art for toddlers project that you will love to keep forever. An art project that also strengthens fine motor skills & colors.Frame Worthy Winter Process Art for Toddlers

Filed Under: Development, Motor Skills, Process Art Tagged With: Fine Motor, Process Art and Crafts

« Introducing Your Preschooler to Addition and Subtraction
Letter Sound Matching Activity »

Comments

  1. Alex @ Teach Through Play says

    August 3, 2012 at 12:48 pm

    I love this idea…thanks for that last picture though… maybe we’ll try this one OUTSIDE! haha!

    -Alex

  2. Michelle says

    August 3, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    This looks like so much fun. I didn’t know you could do that with salt. We’re totally trying this out soon. Thanks for sharing.

  3. Susie Earning-My-Cape says

    August 10, 2012 at 12:17 am

    How fun!!! Well, maybe not the mess, but the rest of the project looks fun! 😉

    Thanks for sharing with my Super Link Party! 🙂

  4. Allison says

    August 10, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    This looks like a blast, mess and all! Salt vacuums easily, right? Thanks for linking up to The Sunday Showcase.

  5. Tulip says

    August 14, 2012 at 1:57 pm

    What a great alternative. I think you can bake it to make it sparkle too. Thanks for sharing at Mom’s Library!

  6. maryanne @ mama smiles says

    September 2, 2012 at 6:37 pm

    Very nice! It would make good faux glitter, too!

    Thanks for sharing with Learning Laboratory 🙂

  7. Vicki D says

    September 23, 2012 at 6:05 pm

    When we were small my mom gave us each a cup of salt with a stick of colored chalk and we would stir the salt with the chalk until it was to small to stir. Has a great effect also and gets the kids involved in that part of the process! Love this idea!

  8. MaryLea Martin Harris says

    October 1, 2012 at 1:20 pm

    It might be easier to work on a lidded cookie sheet (like a jelly roll pan) or inside a shallow box to contain the mess. That’s what we do with salt and glitter around here. Love the finished picture!

Trackbacks

  1. Tips for Teaching Correct Pencil Grasp says:
    January 21, 2014 at 8:13 am

    […] Fruit Loops and How It Develops Fine Motor Skills, Easy Fine Motor Activity For Babies, and Faux Sand Art.)  I was confident that William’s pencil grasp would improve proportionately to his overall […]

  2. 30 Verbs That Promote Fine Motor Development says:
    September 30, 2014 at 2:37 pm

    […] sprinkling […]

  3. Eight Desert Theme Preschool Activities says:
    July 14, 2016 at 10:47 am

    […] construction paper.  At the bottom of the paper, students sprinkled orange “sand” (dyed salt).  They used tissue paper to make fruit for the cactus and black poppy seeds for the seeds of the […]

Search This Site

Stay Connected

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Find preschool printables at the Stay at Home Educator on Teachers Pay Teachers buy learn with play book and ebook

PRINTABLE SHOP
PLANNING
LITERACY
MATH
DEVELOPMENT
THEMES
PLAY
Visit Sarah @ Stay At Home Educator's profile on Pinterest.
Stay At Home Educator

© Copyright 2015 Foodie Pro Theme · Genesis Framework · Customizations by Kara Carrero ·

Wordpress